Conveying mechanism



Nov. 28, 1939. F. A, BRowN CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed March 14, '1959' 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Y 'l y INVENTOR. y[QTL Broume BY y *M ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 28, 1939. F, A, BROWNE 2.181298 CONVEYING MECHANISM l y Filed March14, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VENTOR.

- ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 28, 1939. F. A. BROWNE 2.181298 CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed March 14,1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS Nov; 2s, 1939.

F, A. lsRowNEl CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed March 14, 19'59 4 Sheets-Sheet4 INVENTOR. lof d A .BTUuJYLe @Kala/v SLM ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 28,1939 PATENT yori-ICE 2,1s1,29s coNvEYlNG MEcnANIsM 'FloydA Browne,Cleveland, Ohio, assigner of one-half to J. D. Overholt, Wooster, OhioApplication March 14, 1939, Serial No. 261,857 1 Clailn.` (Cl. 198-1)According to the invention, when the conveying mechanism is loaded atthe plant or dairy, all lthe receptacles are filled with products to bedelivered to the respective customers. Some of the recep- 3155 taclesare placed in close side-by-side relation in the vertical plane, Whileothers are placed end-to-end in the horizontal plane, so that al1 thereceptacles are utilized. The conveying mechanism or a plurality of themmay be then '20 assembled in a unitary insulated structure and removablymounted in a truck or milk wagon or other conveyance adapted to receivethe same.

When the products contained in the first vertical receptacle have beendelivered, and the space formerly occupied thereby refilled With emptycontainers, such as milklc-ottles, the receptacle is manually pulledforward, and as it is pulled, the roller at the upper end of thereceptacle engages the inclined portions hinges on 3o' the forward endof the upper trackway that extends down to meet the lower trackway, andlifts the same and passes therebeyond. The hinged inclined portions thenreturn to their normal position by-gravity. The receptacle is then man.

f` ually forced up the incline, provided kby the hinged inclinedportions, into the upper trackway where it issupported at its forwardend vby the rollers engaging the upper trackway, and at l its rear -endby engaging the projecting flanges positioned below the upper trackway,so that the receptacle is slidably mounted in and on the `supportingstructure.

It will be seen that the weight of the receptacle is equalized in and onthe supporting structure and further that space is economized. It willbe further seen that the eiciency of the mechanism is increased by theelimination of mechanical parts, such as those shown in my morevcomposite structures, comprising chains, etc., with the result thatmanufacturing costs are reduced.

When the receptacle furthest remote from the incoming receptacle isreleased from the Aupper trackway and supporting flanges it is guidedand positioned automatically by controlled independently acting meansthat positions it in its proper place in the vertical plane in the lowertrackway. Thereceptacle may be `removed from the device for the purposeof cleaning and repairs.

The receptacle is collapsible so that itmay be vopened when removed fromthe device, so that 5 the bottles may be easily placed therein andremoved -therefrom at thedairy or loading station.

The objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as thedescription .prof gresses. v 10 In the accompanying drawings formingpart of this specification, like reference characters are employed todesignate `corresponding parts throughout the same.

Figure 1 is an end elevation, parts broken away 15 toshow insulation ofthe device, and also showing a door removed from one of the compartmentsshowing thereceptacles therein loaded with milk bottles in thehorizontal and vertical planes.

Figure 2 is a side elevationof the device, parts 20 broken away to showinsulation,` and also `showing the position of the track ways andsupporting flanges therein. t f

Figure 3 is a l'front elevationof the-collapsible container showingthehandle at its top,"the han- 25 dle is shown down rin the solid line,and up in the chain line. f

Figure 4 is a top plan ofthe receptaclesh'own in Figure 3. v

Figure 5 is an end View of the upper and lower 30 trackway with thesupporting flange therebetween.

Figure -6 is an enlarged fragmentary side view ofl the entrant orforward end of the trackway and the supporting flange. 35

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of therear end of the trackwaysand the supporting flange, also showing the automatic controlling means.

The parts shown in Vthis view are turned 40 to the left from theirnormal position as shown in the side elevation in Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration, Ihave shown thevnew mechanism Il! generally designates the frame of 45the conveying mechanism.

The frame structure which in the present example is of elongatedrectangular configuration comprises a plurality of compartments H, andare similar as regards'their leading dimensions. 50

Each compartment is provided with a suitable hinged and latched door l2properly insulated as at i3.

porting flange, see Figures 2 and 7 at 26.

yone is a right and the other is a left, it is thought that a detaileddescription of one will suflice, and reference is now made to Figure 5and Figure 6 for that purpose.

Each trackway comprises an upper rail I6 having at the forward end I Ithereof a hinged inclined portion I8; a lower rail comprising threeportions I9, 2D, and 2l. The section 20 is in spaced parallel relationwith the upper rail I3, while the forward portion I9 is inclined upwardfrom the rail 20 to prevent the receptacle from being accidentallydisplaced when it is pulled forward and under the hinged inclinedportions I8. The end portion 2l remote from theportion I 9 is alsoinclined upward but is given a long incline, for the purpose of guidingthe receptacle after it is released from the upper track and thesupporting flange into the lower trackway.V

The supporting flanges 22, 22, adapted to well withstand the slidingfriction of the receptacle therealong, are spaced in fixed relationrelative to the upper and lower track members and are of less lengththan the upper trackways, as shown at 23 in Figures 2 and 7 to permitthe release of the receptacle 24 as shown in Figure 2 at 25.

It Will be noted that the top rail I6 and the supporting flange 22 bothstop short of the length of the lower rail, so that there is provided anopening at the end of the top rail and the sup- The receptacle issupported in its movement beyond the rails and supporting flanges by theautomatic positioning means as shown by the chain lines 2'I, see Figure7. The solid lines 28 shows the automatic positioning means forcing thereceptacle into proper position in the vertical plane, while the chainlines 29 shows the automatic positioning means at substantially itsextreme limits of actuation.

The automatic positioning means comprises two spaced members 30 and 3lconnected to a transverse shaft 32, see Figure 1 at 33, which shaft isjournalled in suitable bearings, one of which is shown at 34 in Figure7.

The positioning means is controlled by spiral springs 35, see Figure 7,one end of which is attached to positioning means as at 31 While theother end is attached to the supporting structure as at 38, see Figure2.

The receptacles 24 are each identical in structure, so that adescription of one will suffice for all. The receptacle consists of abody portion 40 with oppositely positioned wheels 4I and 42.v The bottomportion 43 of the receptacle is hinged to the body portion 40 and thatthe body portion and the bottom are held in locked position by thespring latch members 44, 44. 'I'he receptacle is provided on its topside 45 with a handle 46. The handle is slidably mounted so that it maybe pulled up as shown in the ghain line 4'I in Figure 3 to provide ameans to carry the receptacle. When it is not in use, it is pushed backas shown in the solid line 48 in Figure 3. 'Ihe receptacle is providedwith spacing members as shown at 36 and 39 to keep the bottles in spacedrelationship in the receptacle, see Figure 3.

The conveying device is provided with eye members 5U, one at each cornerof the device so that it may be hooked to lift the same with a crane orother suitable means to facilitate easy handling of same.

'I'he device is also provided with casters or rollers 5I, so that thesame may be easily moved from place to place on the oor in the dairy orloading station.

'Ihe device is properly insulated as shown at 52.

Since the operation of the various sets of mechanisms by which thepurposes of the apparatus is achieved have been described in connectionwith the description of said mechanism, it is believed that a rsum ofthe entire device is unnecessary.

In a general way, while I have, in the above description, disclosed whatI deem to be a practical and eicient embodiment of the presentinvention, it should be Well understood that I do not wish to be limitedthereto as there might be changes made in the arrangement, dispositionand form of parts without departing from the principle of the presentinvention as comprehended without the scope of the accompanying claim.

What I claim is:

A device of the class described comprising a supporting structure,oppositely positioned trackways therein consisting of an upper trackwayhaving at one end thereof an inclined hinged switching member, asectionalized lower trackway below the upper trackway and joined to theupper trackway through the instrumentality of the hinged inclinedswitching member that rests on the lower trackway, supporting flangespositioned between the upper and lower trackways and projectingoutwardly beyond the aforesaid trackways, a plurality of receptacles,spaced rollers on each of said receptacles at the top thereof, some ofthe said plurality of receptacles being mounted in the upper trackway bythe rollers thereon and slidably supported on the supporting flanges bythe structure of the receptacle that engages the supporting flanges whenthe receptacle is in the horizontal position in the trackway, whileother of said plurality of receptacles are supported on the lowertrackway by the spaced rollers thereon, and independent automaticcontrolling means adapted to position the released receptacle after ithas bee-n manually forced out of its position by the receptacle beingplaced in the upper trackway from the lower trackway.

FLOYD A. BROWNE.

